Rail-fastening.



J. W. GUTHBERT.

Patented Apr. 30, 1912.

h E] m vewlioz b b u 3 w/// w Q V r////// m JOHN W..CUTHBERT, OF BAY CITY, MICHIGAN.

RAIL-FASTENIN G.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatcntedApr. 30, 1912.

Application filed October 25, 1911. Serial No. 656,556.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, JOHN \V. CU'rnnER'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at. Bay City. in the county of Bay and State of Michigan. have invented new and useful Improvements in llaihl astenings, of which the following a. specification.

The present invention provides means for securely fastening the rails of a railroad to wooden ties in a manner to prevent the aceidental withdrawal of the spikes by vibration, which is the chief cause of the spreading of the. rails and the derainnent of trains.

In accordance with the present invention a metal plate is interposed between the rail and the tie and forms a seat for the rail and acts as a fastener for the spike, said plate having an opening through which the spike is driven, said spike havin a shoulder over which the plate engages a tor the spike has been properly driven to secure the rail.

The invention consists of the novel features, details of construction and combination of parts, which hereinafter will be more particularly set forth, illustrated in the nocoi'npanying drawing, and pointed out; in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing, forming a. part of the specification, Fizzure l. is a. transverse section of a. railroad rail, showing the same secured by means embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a. view similar to Fig. 1, showing one of the spikes partly driven home and the other spike in position preliminary to delivering a blow thereon. Fig. 3 is a. top plan view of a pair of plates. .Fig. 4 is a side view of the spike.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description, and indicated in all the views of the drawing, by the same reference characters.

The numeral 1 designates a. railway tie of ordinary construction and 2 a rail supported thereon; In the preferable construction a pair of plates 3 are provided and are interposed between the rail and the tie and form a seat. upon which the rail rests. Each plate has a spike opening t. The two plates are normally drawn together by means of one or more springs 5 which are of helical form.

and of the contractile type. The spring or springs 5' may be secured to the plates 3 in any manner and in order that. the. springs may he of a length to perform etl'e tive serv ice the plates 5 are formed with notches 6 into which the end portions of the springs are fitted.

The spike is tapered and has a point at one end and a head 8 at the opposite end to extend over the foot of the rail. A shoulder 9 is formed upon the outer side of the spike near the head 8 and is adapted to engage under one of the plates 3, thereby prevent ing withdrawal or displacement of the spike after the same has been driven home and the plate moved to engage over the shoulder 9 thereof.

In practice a pair of plates are placed between each tie and the rail supported thereon, the plates being arranged between the rail and tie with the spike openings t in position to admit of driving the spikes into the tie through the said openings 4. fter the spikes have been driven home to bring the shoulders 9 thereof about (lush with the upper side of the tie the plates 3 are Forced inward by a blow from the sledge or other instrument used for driving the spikes. The springs 5 prevent outward displacement of the plates and it is to he understood that; they are sntficiently heavy to hold the plates inward so as to engage over the shoulders 9 of the spikes. The weight of the rail and the plates is sutiicient to hold the spikes in proper place. The Weight: of the trains passing over the rail is sutficient to force the spikes into the tie should they from any cause tend to move outward.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while I have descrihed'thc principle of operation of the invention, together with the device which I now consider to be the embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that; the device shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described the invention what; is claimed as new, is

1. Fastening meansfor a railroad rail, the same consisting of a plate arranged between the tie and rail and provided with a spike opening, a spike driven through the spike opening of the plate into the tie and having its head engaging over the foot of the rail, said spike having a shoulder upon one side near the head thereof to engage under the plate after the spike has been driven a proper distance into the tie, and :1 spring normall exerting a force upon the plate to hold t e same in engagement with the shoulder of the spike.

2. A railroad rail fastening, the same comprising a pair of plates arranged between the tie and rail, each of the plates having a spike opening, spikes driven into openings of the the tie through the spike engage over the plates and having heads to foot of the rail and provided upon their outer sides with shoulders to engage under the respective plates, and means for drawing the lates' together to prevent disengagement tlfereof from the shoulders of the spikes.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN W. GUTHBERT. Witnesses:

JOHN E. KINNANE, MARY N. SMITH. 

